Comprehensive Planning

Since adoption of the 2009 Comprehensive Plan, the City of Richardson has been purposeful in its implementation of the Plan and committed to the on-going refinement of key tactics to ensure the city's best possible future. Most recently, efforts have been concentrated within multiple Enhancement/Redevelopment Areas and in promoting transit-oriented development near the DART rail stations.

The 2009 Comprehensive Plan designated six Enhancement / Redevelopment Areas, acknowledging that these areas were under-performing and in need of further analysis in order to develop appropriate visions for each and tailor strategies that will effectively leverage public and private investment. Community-based, market-supported vision studies have been completed for the Main Street/Central Expressway Corridor (2013) and West Spring Valley Corridor (2010). New land use and development regulations, which over time will result in the built visions for both corridors, have also been adopted. The Main Street/Central Expressway Corridor was rezoned in two phases during 2015 and 2016, and the West Spring Valley Corridor was rezoned in 2011. Additionally, a market area assessment was completed for the East Arapaho/Collins area in 2013 that served as the basis for additional work undertaken by the Chamber of Commerce during 2016.

In keeping with the 2009 Comprehensive Plan policy of locating dense, mixed-use development in proximity to DART rail stations and along major transportation corridors, new zoning regulations consciously based on place-making principles have been enacted at several key locations. Between 2011 and 2014 more than 150 acres in proximity to the CityLine/Bush DART Station were re-entitled with form-based codes, giving rise to the largest suburban transit-oriented development in the North Texas Region. Areas in proximity to the Galatyn Park and Spring Valley DART stations also stand to further benefit from new zoning (enacted in 2014 and 2016, respectively) that provides for increased density and expanded housing options that foster transit ridership. A form-based code was also implemented in two phases over the course of a year spanning 2013 and 2014 at the Palisades, an 80 acre mixed use development of high-rise office, retail, single family and multi-family housing situated along the west side of US 75 directly across from the Galatyn Park DART Station.

acquisition of park land, such as the 2014 expansion of the Spring Creek Nature Area, development of Durham Park in 2013, and the opening of the Bush Central Barkway Dog Park in 2015 furthering the city's objective of continuing to provide a diversity of quality open spaces throughout the community;

establishment of three Tax Increment Finance districts structured to leverage private investment and advance economic development objectives while safeguarding the City's fiscal well-being;

The City continually revaluates and refines its policies, programs and areas of special study to ensure they remain relevant and effective in their purpose. This on-going commitment to a dynamic comprehensive planning strategy not only allows for consistency with City Council goals as governing bodies change, it serves as an effective means to perpetually elevate the quality of life for all Richardson citizens and ensure the long-term economic health of the city as a whole.

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